The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
HIKES, TREATS AND PUMPKINS IN TIME FOR THE SEASON
Communities are preparing for Halloween with trunkor-treating, a haunted hike, decorating contests and parties. All are focused on safety and social distancing and masks are required.
Torrington: ‘Downtown is AGLOW’ will be held downtown, Oct. 30-31.
Students from St. John Paul the Great Academy are carving more than 100 j ack o’lanterns set to light up Main Street for about half a mile. Starting at dusk, in the academy parking lot at 360 Prospect St., food trucks will provide refreshments for purchase. The public is then invited to stroll south along Main Street, where jack o’lanterns will be displayed in storefronts. Vote for your favorites via your phones as you walk, or later by computer, at the academy’s website, www.stjohnpaulthegreatacademy
.org/glow. Voting ends at midnight Oct. 31. The short walk will end at the Torrington Library, 12 Daycoeton Place. Guests are asked to maintain social distancing and wear face coverings over nose and mouth.
The event is presented by St. John Paul the Great Academy, a pre-k thru eighth grade Catholic school with more than 140 students. Partnering sponsors are listed on the academy’s website. For more information, visit the website or call 860-489-4177 or 860-482-4433.
Trunk or Treat: The Torrington Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring a Drive-Thru Trunk Or Treat at Torrington Middle School, 4-6 p.m. Oct. 24; rain date is Oct. 25, for all ages. Trunk or treating limited to ages 15 and under. Due to COVID-19 safety precautions, families and children should remain in their cars at all times. Trunk or Treat participants will hand out candy wearing masks & practicing social distancing. It is preferred that families have their trunks open with a bucket for candy.
Families participating in this event are encouraged to decorate their vehicles and have their children wear costumes. Anyone interested in decorating a vehicle and handing out candy, must register in advance at the Torrington Parks and Recreation Department. Call 860-489-2274 for information.
Pumpkin Decorating Contest: The Torrington Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring a Pumpkin Decorating Contest. Decorate a pumpkin or member of the pumpkin family, take a photo of it and attach to a form available from the office. Prizes for two age groups, 12 and under and Family, judged for Scariest and Most Original. You must submit completed entry form with your entry picture by Oct. 25; include your full name, age group and category with your picture.
Halloween Decorating Contest: The department is sponsoring a Halloween Decorating Contest, at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 29. Displays should be lit from 6-9 p.m.; judging in categories including Commercial: Halloween Display and Residential: Decorated Doorway and Halloween Display. Residents must fill out an entry form, due Oct. 26. Trophies will awarded to the top three in each category.
Salisbury: Flanders Haunted Hikes: Fridays at 5 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m., Oct. 23-24, 30-31, at Flanders Nature Center. The early guided hikes on all nights will be kid-friendly for spooky family fun with costumed characters.
From 6:30 - 8 p.m. the “fright factor” is ramped up with spine-chilling displays and scares, for ages 12 and up. Hikes will last about 40 minutes; leave flashlights at home and come prepared for a night of adventure dressed for the weather.
Cost is $7 per person. There will be seasonal refreshments available for purchase. Advance reservations are required; go to flandersnaturecenter.org or call Flanders at 203-263-3711, extension 12.
Thomastom: Thomaston Opera House haunted tours by Landmark Community Theatre will begin Oct. 22 and continue until Nov. 7, with themes allowing small groups and requiring masks. Tickets are $15 for all ages; groups limited to 2-8 people. Make
reservations early.
For more information call 860-2836250 or visit www.landmarkcommunitytheatre.org
Litchfield: Litchfield Historical Society presents Scarecrows in the Meadow, a socially distanced community event for families to celebrate the end of the harvest season. From Oct. 17-31, visitors can walk through the display, enjoy fall crafts and games. Display is open until dusk. Details at litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org
Light up the Meadow, Jack-o-Lanterns in the Tapping Reeve Meadow, dropoff Oct. 31, display Oct. 30-31. Bring a carved or decorated pumpkins to the Litchfield Historical Society’s Tapping Reeve Meadow Oct. 30; see the pumpkins and scarecrows on display. Free and open to the public. No registration necessary.
Winsted: Winsted’s Trunk or Treat Drive-Thru Edition will be held from 2-4 p.m. Oct. 31. Stop by the Gilbert School student lot, where cars will be decorated, and candy will be handed out to everyone in their cars. Costumes are not required but suggested. Everyone must stay in their vehicles. Those interested in giving out candy, go to townofwinchester.org and click on the recreation department link.
Halloween Party: Halloween drag show and costume party, at The Silo-44 Upland Road-New Milford, costumes are required and prizes will be awarded, at 5 p.m. Oct. 31. The show includes the KBJB Queens, KJ Johansen, Ivy Stalls, Bella Noche and Whendy Whaxwood, with DJ Rayd.
Tickets $30; $5 supports The Silo. Lawn opens at 5 p.m., check in and wait to be seated. Show starts at 6 p.m. Bring a non-perishable food or toiletry item for New Milford Social Services. For tickets call KBJB Entertainment-860350-8152 or email kbjbradio@gmail.com